Your kitchen serves as the heart of your home. It is one of the aspects of the home that adds much value to the property. An essential feature in the kitchen that stands out distinctively is the countertop.
Countertops have a tremendous impact on kitchens because it boosts aesthetics and adds value to the space, explains Paradise Property Management in Ventura. However, the level of aesthetics will depend on the type of countertops, installation, and finishes.
Before settling on a countertop material for your kitchen, you must consider the pros and cons. The aspects to consider here include the following:
· Maintenance
You want a countertop with stress-free maintenance. Choosing countertops that require too much maintenance will be financially demanding and costly.
· Stain resistance
Some countertop materials are resistant to stains, while others do not have such ability. Countertops without stain-resisting properties will appear messy within a short time. Also, they will lose their aesthetic appeal.
· Scratch resistance
Countertops have high exposure to impact because you use them as a platform to prepare meals and cut vegetables or meat. Knives can scratch your countertop if they do not have scratch-resistant properties. It would be best to consider this when choosing your countertop.
· Durability
Depending on the material you choose, countertops may be financially demanding. We recommend you go for durable materials because it is different from a project you want to perform frequently. Some countertop materials are more durable than others.
· Sustainability
The trend is fast becoming a trend. People now want to live eco-friendly lifestyles. To join the movement, you can choose countertop materials that are non-toxic to the environment. If you want an eco-friendly environment, your countertop material should not be the type that emits harmful fumes into the atmosphere.
· Repairs
Like every other item in the home, your countertop may require repairs. You need a countertop that will not be difficult to repair if it sustains damage.
· Installation
Some materials are more difficult to install than others. Countertops with such challenges will require professional installation, not a do-it-yourself approach.
· Water resistance
Your countertop will be exposed to water and moisture. For that reason, you will need a countertop that has water-resisting properties. Countertops that are porous to water and oil will require sealing.
· Resistance to chemicals
Homeowners want to keep their kitchens clean and hygienic. For that reason, they use chemical cleaning agents to clean the kitchen. Some countertop materials can withstand chemicals more than others. You may want to consider this when choosing a countertop.
· Resistance to heat
Your countertop will experience both direct and indirect exposure to heat. You will need to choose a material that can withstand high temperatures from hot pans, stoves, crockpots, etc.
Pros and cons of countertop finishes
With all the above features in mind, below are the pros and cons of the top countertop finishes.
Granite countertops
Pros of granite countertops
Granite is a natural stone. A single quarry site can provide enough material for thousands of projects for many years. Because of that, it is eco-friendly, sustainable, and doesn't release toxic chemicals.
Granite has scratch-resistant properties. It scores seven on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness.
Granite is durable. It can last for many years.
It is low maintenance. You may only need to seal it once every ten years.
Granite has stain-resisting properties if you seal it.
Granite can resist high temperatures or heat.
Cons of granite countertops
Lighter granites are porous to water and oil. You need to seal it, or else it will absorb moisture and liquid easily.
Granites require professional installation. You will need the expertise to install them. Also, the repairs require experts.
Frequent cleaning with toxic chemicals can damage the sealing and the granite. You need to reseal them if you always use chemical cleaning agents.
No countertop material is 100% perfect. However, some countertop materials have more pros and lesser cons than others. It is advisable to choose countertops that will suit your lifestyle, needs, and budget. Always hire experts to install your countertops instead of doing it yourself.
